Saturday, November 30, 2013

Ashley is headed back to Malay

Please lift Ashley up as she starts her trip back to the Philippines. James continues to serve and Ashley be joining him on Monday. Also her friend, Chelsi, is headed over to serve alongside Frei Ministries right now. Thanks for all your prayers, envouragement and support.

Blessings!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Gause Baptist Church Presentation Monday, Nov. 25th

If you are unable to make it out tomorrow night, plan to hear Ashley speak at Gause Baptist Church at 6:30pm.

She will be sharing what God has done and is doing with Frei Minisitries today.

Hope to see you tomorrow night at FBC Milano or Monday night at Gause Baptist Church.

Blessings.

Wednesday, Novemeber 20, 2013, 7pm.

Tomorrow evening, Ashley will be giving a presentation about what the Lord is doing in the Philippines. The presentation begins at 7pm at FBC Milano. Anyone is welcome to come.

Thank you to everyone at FBC Columbus for allowing Ashley to present last Sunday night. Also for your love, prayers and support.

Thank you to everyone who continues to love, pray and support. God is so good.

Blessing to each.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Tonight Ashley is Sharing at FBC Columbus

Join FBC Columbus in worship tonight at 6pm to hear an update on what Frei Ministires has been doing in the Philippines.

It was a blessing to present at Robertson County Cowboy Church this morning. Thank you for your prayers, love and support.

God is good! Blessings.


Frei Ministries on Facebook

If you aren't following us on facebook yet, the address is:

www.facebook.com/freiministries

Thank you all for your prayers and support. More stories to come soon.

Blessings.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Another storm: please be praying

Another storm is going to hit near Malay in the next couple of days. Please be praying for those recovering and rebuilding. It is not as strong as the last typhoon, but still more wind and rain.

From Ashley


Saturday, November 9, 2013

A conversation from Malay to Texas

The following conversation is between Ashley and her mother Ruth after the storm passed. Ruth's questions or comments will be indicated in italics and abreviated R.

Ruth: How are you doing?

Ashley: hey. we are doing well here. we made lots of hospital runs today for people but all in all is good. we got the mosquito nets up and its burning up today here. we are praying for an evening breeze. please tag kim holden on facebook in a comment saying they are ok. she cannot get her. 

R: Can you send any pictures? We are seeing the many casualties on other islands. 

A: i will try you again in the middle of my night. that's when it worked last night for me. i love you. i believe that too. i have lots of pics but no way to send them yet. God's hand was truly here. tonight we fed 40 people in our neighborhood to say thank you for helping us and others. we prayed with them and really got to know them. God is so good. I'm sad for all the lost homes but the people here are so resiliant. please let people know to send money to you so we can afford to buy the food to feed them. that is the biggest need. food and clothes and money for water.

R: What were you able to do today or see?

A: today we drove a lot to take people to and from the hospital. so much destruction yet they are happy to be alive. no one here is stuck to material things. i've not seen one tear yet. only mine. we are hearing of the damage only 10 miles away and we are shocked. it's like we were in a safe pocket and we know it was in Gods hand.

R: How's Lydia?

A: i honestly think it was broken last night but i prayed a deep deep healing over her and it was like an electric bolt went through me then i felt like passing out and today its only a bruise and she is fine. I give God all the glory for healing her

R: What about the villages where Sister Anna went to feed?

A: destroyed but so excited for food and fellowship. i joined her at one.
its' amazing mom. the way they pull together. they are so priveleged to grow up this way, put there are some who are so sick and poor. we live a the rich part so we have seen the way thye act and live, but the ati are totally different

R: Did the river rise beside you?

A: no, not at all. the rain was not too bad. no flookding here anywhere

R: Are you aware if how bad it is in other areas?

A: yes i am. all around they said we are protected here because of God
we were able to give a family a ride home from the hospital and i felt the lord say give her all your change, so i did and she cried and said they had no money today. we prayed with them, they are not believers but are now they want to start a bible study and feeding next week I know we are to bring what we are learning back home and man God is growing us so quickly. so many great spiritual lessons. 30 min away but i say its worth the drive. peole are hungry for the Lord and dont even know it until they experience his love and then they can't get enough.

I gave a little catholic girl my bible and i told her to start in john. she sat on my porch and read. yesterday her house was destroyed but she said she kept the bible safe. she is 11 and has never read one word out of a bible

R: Where are the homeless?

A: yes, everyone is just another day here. clearing stuff and rebuilding but happy to be alive

yes, we believe in the work we are doing here. God will send the money when he is ready

R: Debons family?

A: with family

R: Dad's friend June?

A: yes, all day but he was stuck inside yestereday. he always waves and smiles at us. we take them food and money sometimes

R: More about Debobn family?

A: no, but his house was destroyed but his grandparents are ok
his family will not return his mom remarried and left him here to be raised by his gma

R: Who is at your house tonight?

A: no one tonight, just us. the filipinos are so used to sleeping outdoors that they just pop up a hammock and go to sleep

R: How's Mercys family?

A: her husband was in boracay and her house is destroyed too but she has cement house now so she was ready for the hit

It's very different here but we are learing to live within what we have. the heat at night is hard right now but its only a few more nights

R: She washed three loads of towels, sheets all by hand- I told her I wouldn't know how.

A: you just do, i dont know either but we made it through today and tomorrow we wake up and go to church and see what the day holds. we will go to pastor leo tomorrow

I am so thankful for God's hand
oh wow. God was really all over here. please please please htank everyone for praying he needs all the glory. no casualties within ten towns of us
i can't believe we went through the eye of a storm like that and not only lived but have only water to clean up. wow Praise God praise God!

R: Ten towns?

A: yes. all around here are alive? just no homes

R: And now they have a chance to still hear God's word.

A: sure do and we are even more bold now because of God sparing so much it's a great convo starter and so many people need help that they have no choice but to be prayed over most of our pastors lost their churches but no deaths at all recorded around here yet. we may learn differnet later but for now it's fine. tonight we fed chicken and rice today at feedings was pancit. we have to cook everything in our firdge and freezer by tomorrow - it's all thawing out

R: Martha said she hoped you sang and used the voice God have you to comfort her family storm.

A: i was singing the son JESUS, Jesus, Jesus there just something abou that name its crazy mom. just the way we are having ot live with no power. candles and flashlights goodnight. i love you.

Please continue to pray for Frei Ministries in the aftermath of the Storm of the Century. If you would like to make a donation, you can do it online or mail a check. Check out www.freiministries.com and click on the support tab.

Blessings.

The Latest info from Frei Ministries


Friday, November 8, 2013

A message from Kari, Ashley's sister

Good Morning,
 
I wanted to let you all know that my sister and her family are alive in the Philippines. They live on the island of Panay in a town called Malay. The storm hit them hard, but God protected them and kept them from harm. My sister shared with me early this am that all of the houses around them were down and the trees all around them were down but there house was still standing. The biggest issue, for them,  is the water that is in their house and having to go without power for a few weeks. My niece Lydia (4) fell down the stairs (because they were wet) and she busted her chin open and they think she may have broken her hip. Please pray for healing for her. Also pray that they will be strengthened as they help all of the others there get back on their feet and just survive day to day.
 
A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who were praying for my family, I know without a doubt that it is because of prayer that they are alive today. It means a lot to know you care.
 
If any of you would like to donate money to help rebuild the Philippines and to reach out to them in this huge time of need, just come talk to me. My parents deal directly with my sisters account and I would be glad to pass along anything to help, you would be surprised how far the dollar goes over there. My brother in law went to buy more rice yesterday, since they had 20 plus orphans that would be taking cover with them and for a 150lb bag it cost 50 US dollars. There is no need to ship clothes, food, things, etc now because it will take even longer to get to them since this storm has happened. The quickest way to help is through money.
 
Thanks again, for your prayers and support, please keep them coming! I hope you all have a great day! Please remember to not sweat the small stuff and be thankful for everything you have! We are so blessed to live in the country that we do, to work where we work, etc.... I could go on and on.
 
Kari Hellums

Additional information

Posted by Ashley's Aunt Martha.

5:38am CST - 11/8/13 Communication - Survived the "Storm of the Century"

Minutes ago, Kari received confirmation that James, Ashley and kids those who where in their home made it throught the super typhoon. Moments after that, Kari was able to talk to her on the phone for a minute or so. 

There is water everywhere in their house, but their home is the only structure still standing in their area. Homes and trees have been destroyed and Ashely said, "it's terrible!" The worst is over, she also mentioned. 

It is projected that power will be off for weeks. There is wide spread destruction.

Pastor Leo and his wife are now with the Frei's.

As shown in the previous post, Lydia is in need of prayer, specifically. She busted her chin by slipping down the stairs. There is no way to get to a hospital. It has been butterflied together. Also, she hit her hip hard. There is a possibility it could be broken, but at this point there is no at of knowing.

God has put His hand over Frei Ministries and delivered them from this storm. Praise the Lord!

Now we pray differently - going without power for a fews weeks is hard. Picking up the pieces in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan will be difficult. Finding out who survived and who didn't. Helping out wherever someone needs help. They have already been able to help people in their area.

God has put them exactly where He wants them. Please continue to pray.

"We made it through the worst part..."


Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Eye Makes Landfall

We last heard from Ashley about 9:30pm CST. She said that power would be out at least 2 days. At last look, the eye of the typhoon was one island west of them. The Frei's are experiencing high winds and heavy rain.

Correction from an earlier post - they are staying downstairs.

"And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:22-24

And Landon reminded me of Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."

May we remember that we can trust in His words. He is in control. Call on Him, in Jesus name, to watch over James, Ashley, Daniel, Lydia and Samuel and the 20 kids who are staying with them through the storm - that His angels guard over their home, fortify the structure and protect each of them.

Thank you to so many who have already been praying and have been giving encouraging words. We will keep you posted as the information becomes available. Blessings.

8pm Central Standard time - 10am, Friday, Malay time

We just got an oppurtunity to Skype with Ashley, James and company. They lost Internet for about an hour, but are back for now. 

She said they expect to see high winds about 10am, which is 8pm CST.

Continue to pray for Frei Ministries.

About 12 Hours from the Eye of the Storm

Super Typhoon HAIYAN (YOLANDA), "is considered as the most powerful tropical cyclone ever to develop since Super Typhoon Tip of October 1979," states weather.com.ph and Frei Ministries is projected to be at the center of the storm in about 12 hours. Winds have been projected at 305 km/hr which is about 208mph.


James and Ashley have been preparing for the last 5 days for this storm. Their home is ready for the storm. They have moved and planned to stay upstairs in order to be safe from any potential flooding. Please continue to pray for them and the people of the Philippines.

When I last spoke to Ashley via Viber, she said the eye of the storm was about 12 hours away. The winds have begun to pick up. About an hour ago, Ashley posted on facebook, "We are turning phones off to preserve battery. Pray like never before."

"We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . ." — Romans 8:28

I was reminded by Oswald Chambers, "All your circumstances are in the hand of God, and therefore you don’t ever have to think they are unnatural or unique. Your part in intercessory prayer is not to agonize over how to intercede, but to use the everyday circumstances and people God puts around you by His providence to bring them before His throne, and to allow the Spirit in you the opportunity to intercede for them. In this way God is going to touch the whole world with His saints."

Look for updates here, as we get them. Blessings.

Posted by: Jeremy Hellums, Ashley's brother in law.